| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Professor by Charlotte Bronte: N'y-a-t-il pas de belles etudes parmi ces jeunes tetes?"
"Studies of character? Yes; curious ones, at least, I imagine;
but one cannot divine much from a first interview."
"Ah, you affect discretion; but tell me now, were you not a
little abashed before these blooming young creatures?
"At first, yes; but I rallied and got through with all due
sang-froid."
"I don't believe you."
"It is true, notwithstanding. At first I thought them angels,
but they did not leave me long under that delusion; three of the
eldest and handsomest undertook the task of setting me right, and
The Professor |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Royalty Restored/London Under Charles II by J. Fitzgerald Molloy: lady's temper sorely marred the poet's peace, and left such
impressions upon his mind, that to the end of his days his
invectives against the bonds of matrimony were bitter and deep.
In justice it must be mentioned the Lady Elizabeth's mental
condition was supposed to be unsettled; a conjecture which was
proved true by a madness which befell her, subsequent to her
husband's death.
Dryden was now a well known figure in town, consorting with men
of the highest quality and parts, and gossiping with wits and
players who frequented Will's coffee-house. Here, indeed, a
special chair was appropriated to his use; which being placed by
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Jolly Corner by Henry James: "That you'd see him."
"Ah but I didn't!" cried Brydon with his long wail. "There's
somebody - an awful beast; whom I brought, too horribly, to bay.
But it's not me."
At this she bent over him again, and her eyes were in his eyes.
"No - it's not you." And it was as if, while her face hovered, he
might have made out in it, hadn't it been so near, some particular
meaning blurred by a smile. "No, thank heaven," she repeated,
"it's not you! Of course it wasn't to have been."
"Ah but it WAS," he gently insisted. And he stared before him now
as he had been staring for so many weeks. "I was to have known
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The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: "Well, then, disperse your men, and remain quiet, and this will
be overlooked, as there has been no overt act."
"Hout, ay," said Elliot, "just let byganes be byganes, and a'
friends again; deil ane I bear malice at but Westburnflat, and I
hae gien him baith a het skin and a cauld ane. I hadna changed
three blows of the broadsword wi' him before he lap the window
into the castle-moat, and swattered through it like a wild-duck.
He's a clever fallow, indeed! maun kilt awa wi' ae bonny lass in
the morning, and another at night, less wadna serve him! but if
he disna kilt himsell out o' the country, I'se kilt him wi' a
tow, for the Castleton meeting's clean blawn ower; his friends
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